Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02677876 2009-08-11
DESCRIPTION
ANTENNA APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a low-profile antenna
apparatus mounted on a vehicle capable of receiving at least
FM broadcasting.
BACKGROUND ART
A prior antenna apparatus mounted on a vehicle is generally
an antenna apparatus capable of receiving AM broadcasting and
FM broadcasting. A prior antenna apparatus uses a rod antenna
of about 1 m in length to receive AM broadcasting and FM
broadcasting. Thelength ofthe rod antenna corresponds to about
1/4 wavelength in the FM wave band, but when compared with a
wavelength in the AM wave band, the length thereof is far shorter
and thus, sensitivity thereof declines dramatically. Therefore,
a high-impedance cable has been used to increase the impedance
of a rod antenna for the AM wave band or an amplifier in the
AM wave band has been used to ensure sensitivity. Moreover,
an on-vehicle antenna apparatus in which the length of antenna
is reduced to about 180 mm to 400 mm by adopting a helically
wound helical antenna for the rod part of the antenna is used.
However, an amplifier is placed immediately below the antenna
to compensate for performance degradation due to a reduced rod
part.
FIG. 23 shows a configuration in which a prior antenna
apparatus 101 whose rod part is made shorter is mounted on a
vehicle 102. As shown in FIG. 23, the prior antenna apparatus
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=
101 is mounted on the roof of the vehicle 102 and a height hl0
of the antenna apparatus 101 sticking out from the vehicle 102
is set to about 200 mm. A helically wound helical antenna is
adopted for the rod part of the antenna apparatus 101. Since,
as described above, the antenna apparatus 101 sticks out from
the vehicle 102, the rod part thereof may be broken by collision
when the vehicle 102 is parked in a garage or washed. Thus,
an antenna apparatus whose rod part can be pushed down to be
in alignment with the roof of the vehicle 102 is also known.
Patent document 1: Japanese Publication Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2005-223957
Patent document 2: Japanese Publication Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2003-188619
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the invention is intended to solve
The prior antenna apparatus 101 described above has
problems that beauty and design of a vehicle are damaged by a
rod part prominently sticking out and also antenna performance
remains lost if the rod part pushed down for parking in a garage
or washing is forgotten to be raised. In addition, the antenna
apparatus 101 is exposed to the outside of a vehicle and thus
may be robbed. Therefore, an on-vehicle antenna apparatuswhose
antenna is housed in an antenna case can be considered. In this
case, the height of the antenna apparatus sticking out from the
vehicle is restricted to a predetermined height by vehicle
external projection regulations and also the length in the
longitudinal direction is suitably about 160 to 220 mm so that
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beauty ofthe vehicleisnotdamaged. Then, radiation resistance
Rrad of such miniaturized antenna will be determined
approximately in proportion to the square of the height, as
represented by600-800x(height/wavelength)z. If, forexample,
the height of an antenna is reduced from 180 mm to 60 mm,
sensitivity thereof is degraded by as much as about 10 dB.
Accordingly, if an existing rod antenna is simply reduced in
length, performance thereof is significantly degraded, making
practical use difficult. Further, if an antenna is made a low
profile of 70 mm or less, the radiation resistance Rrad becomes
smaller and radiation efficiency is more likely to deteriorate
due to an influence of conductor loss of the antenna itself,
leading to further sensitivity degradation.
Thus, the applicant proposed a vehicle mountable antenna
apparatus capable of suppressing a decline in sensitivity even
with a low profile of 70 mm or less in Japanese Patent Application
No. 2006-315297. Incidentally, antennas for various uses such
as terrestrial radio broadcasting, satellite radio broadcasting,
and GPS may be mounted on a vehicle. However, as antennas
conforming to various media increase, the number of antennas
mounted on a vehicle increases, damaging beauty of the vehicle
and increasing working hoursfor mounting. Thus, incorporating
a plurality of antennas into an antenna apparatus can be
considered. As an example, FIG. 24 shows a plan view showing
a configuration example of an antenna apparatus obtained by
incorporating an antenna for receiving, for example, SDARS
(Satellite DigitalAudio Radio Service) into the proposed antenna
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apparatus and FIG. 25 shows a side view of the configuration
example of the antenna apparatus.
An antenna apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25
includes an antenna case 210, an antenna base 220 housed in the
antenna case 210, and an antenna substrate 230 and an amplifier
substrate 234 mounted on the antenna base 220. The antenna case
210 has a streamlined external shape with an ever thinner tip.
The metallic antenna base 220 is mounted on the bottom of the
antenna case 210. Patterns of an antenna device 231 are formed
on the antenna substrate 230 so large as to be housed upright
in the antenna case 210. The interval between the lower edge
of the antenna device 231 and the antenna base 220 is set to
about 10 mm or more. The antenna substrate 230 is fastened
upright to the antenna base 220 and also the amplifier substrate
234 is fastened in front of the antenna substrate 230. Moreover,
a flat antenna unit 235 is fastened onto the amplifier substrate
234. The flat antenna unit 235 includes a patch elementincluding
perturbation element and capable of receiving circular
polarization. The reason why the flat antenna unit 235 is
fastened onto the amplifier substrate 234 is that the flat antenna
unit 235 cannot be installed below the antenna device 231 due
to the height of the flat antenna unit 235 and the only place
in the antenna case 210 having a limited space where the flat
antenna unit 235 can be installed is on the amplifier substrate
234.
A bolt part 221 for mounting the antenna apparatus 200
on a vehicle and a cable outlet 222 through which a cable for
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leading a signal received from the antenna apparatus 200 into
a vehicle is pulled out are formed by sticking out from the bottom
of the antenna base 220. In this case, holes into which the
bolt part 221 and the cable outlet 222 are inserted are formed
on the roof of the vehicle and the antenna apparatus 200 is placed
on the roof in such a way that the bolt part 221 and the cable
outlet 222 are inserted into these holes. Then, the antenna
apparatus 200 can be fastened to the roof of the vehicle by
tightening a nut to the bolt part 221 sticking out into the vehicle.
At this point, the cable pulled out of the cable outlet 222 is
introduced into the vehicle. A feeder cable to the amplifier
substrate 234 housed in the antenna case 210 is introduced into
the antenna case 210 from inside the vehicle via the cable outlet
222. The length of the antenna case 210 in the longitudinal
direction is set to about 200 mm and the width thereof to about
75 mm. The height sticking out from the vehicle is set to about
70 mm and a low profile.
FIG. 26 shows directional characteristics of radiation
in a horizontalplane ofthe antenna apparatus200. The elevation
angle is set to 20 . Reference to directional characteristics
of radiation in FIG. 26 shows that the antenna apparatus 200
is not non-directional and particularly directional
characteristics of radiation drop in the direction (180 ) in
which the antenna device 231 is present. This is because the
installation height of the flat antenna unit 235 installed on
the amplifier substrate 234 becomes higher and the interval
between a ground surface and a patch element of the flat antenna
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unit 235 increases, affecting electric characteristics,
particularly directional characteristics of radiation of the
flat antenna unit. Further, the antenna device 231, which is
a metal body as large as half the wavelength or so of the operating
frequency of the flat antenna unit 235, is present in the range
of low elevation angle radiation in a radiation field of the
flat antenna unit 235 and directional characteristics of
radiation of the flat antenna unit 235 are thereby significantly
degraded under the influence of reflection, diffraction and like
caused by the antenna device 231. Thus, there is a problem that
if an antenna is further incorporated into an antenna apparatus
having an antenna case with a limited space, good electric
characteristics cannot be obtained due to an influence of
existing antennas.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an antenna apparatus having an antenna case with a limited space
that can still exhibit good electric characteristics even after
an antenna being further incorporated into.
Means for solving the problem
To achieve the above obj ect, the present invention includes
an antenna substrate installed upright and on which a surface
antenna device is formed, an amplifier substrate installed so
as not to overlap with the antenna substrate, and a flat antenna
unit installed immediately below the antenna device and
approximately perpendicular to a surface of the antenna device,
wherein if a wavelength of a center frequency in an operating
frequency band of the flat antenna unit is k, an interval between
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an upper surface of the flat antenna unit and a lower end of
the antenna device is about 0.25k or more.
Effect of the invention
According to the present invention, an antenna apparatus
includes an antenna substrate installed upright and on which
a surface antenna device is formed, an amplifier substrate
installed so as not to overlap with the antenna substrate, and
a flat antenna unit installed immediately below the antenna
device and approximately perpendicular to a surface of the
antenna device, wherein if a wavelength of a center frequency
in an operating frequency band of the flat antenna unit is k,
an interval between an upper surface of the flat antenna unit
and a lower end of the antenna device is about 0.25k or more.
Therefore, directional characteristics of radiation in a
horizontal plane of the flat antenna unit can be made
non-directional without being affected by the antenna device
and also good gain characteristics can be obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle
on which an antenna apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention is mounted.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the
antenna apparatus in a f irst embodiment according to the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the
antenna apparatus in the first embodiment according to the
present invention.
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FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal configuration
of the antenna apparatus in the first embodiment according to
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the internal configuration
of the antenna apparatus in the first embodiment according to
the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the internal configuration
by omitting an antenna case according to the antenna apparatus
in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing gain characteristics when an
elevation angle of a flat antenna unit in the antenna apparatus
in the first embodiment of the present invention is 20 .
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing gain characteristics when the
elevation angle of the flat antenna unit in the antenna apparatus
in the first embodiment of the present invention is 30 .
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing gain characteristics when the
elevation angle of the flat antenna unit in the antenna apparatus
in the first embodiment of the present invention is 40 .
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing gain characteristics when
the elevation angle of the flat antenna unit in the antenna
apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention is
500.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing gain characteristics when
the elevation angle of the flat antenna unit in the antenna
apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention is
60 .
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing directional characteristics
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of radiation when the elevation angle of the flat antenna unit
in the antenna apparatus in the first embodiment of the present
invention is 20 .
FIG. 13 is a side view showing the internal configuration
when a height of an antenna device in the antenna apparatus in
the first embodiment according to the present invention is set
to 60 mm.
FIG. 14 is a side view showing the internal configuration
when the height of the antenna device in the antenna apparatus
in the first embodiment according to the present invention is
set to 70 mm.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing gain characteristics of the
flat antenna unit when the height of the antenna device in the
antenna apparatus in the first embodiment according to the
present invention is changed.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics
of VSWR when the height of the antenna device in the antenna
apparatus in the first embodiment according to the present
invention is set to 60 mm and the flat antenna unit is
present/absent.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics
of gain when the height of the antenna device in the antenna
apparatus in the first embodiment according to the present
invention is set to 60 mm and the flat antenna unit is
present/absent.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics
of VSWR when the height of the antenna device in the antenna
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apparatus in the first embodiment according to the present
invention is set to 70 mm and the flat antenna unit is
present/absent.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics
of gain when the height of the antenna device in the antenna
apparatus in the first embodiment according to the present
invention is set to 70 mm and the flat antenna unit is
present/absent.
FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the internal configuration
of an antenna apparatus in a second embodiment according to the
present invention.
FIG. 21 is a side view showing the internal configuration
of the antenna apparatus in the first embodiment according to
the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a front view showing the internal configuration
by omitting the antenna case according to the antenna apparatus
in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the configuration in which
a prior antenna apparatus is mounted on a vehicle.
FIG. 24 is a plan view showing the internal configuration
of the conventional antenna apparatus.
FIG. 25 is a side view showing the internal configuration
of the conventional antenna apparatus.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing directional characteristics
of radiation when the elevation angle of the flat antenna unit
in the conventional antenna apparatus is 20 .
Explanation of the reference symbols
CA 02677876 2009-08-11
1: Antenna apparatus
2: Vehicle
3: Antenna apparatus
10: Antenna case
20: Antenna base
21: Bolt part
22: Cable outlet
23: Substrate fixing part
24: Boss
25: Mounting hole
30: Antenna substrate
30a: Notch
31: Antenna device
32: Antenna coil
34: Amplifier substrate
35: Flat antenna unit
40: Antenna part
41: Antenna device
42: Insulating spacer
42a: Notch
43: Mounting screw
101: Antenna apparatus
102: Vehicle
200: Antenna apparatus
210: Antenna case
220: Antenna base
221: Bolt part
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222: Cable outlet
230: Antenna substrate
231: Antenna device
234: Amplifier substrate
235: Flat antenna unit
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a vehicle on which an
antenna apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention is mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, an antenna apparatus
1 in the first embodiment according to the present invention
is mounted on a roof of a vehicle 2 and a height h sticking out
from the vehicle 2 is about 75 mm or less and suitably about
70 mm or less. The antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment
includes an antenna case described later and is in an extremely
low profile, but can receive AM broadcasting, FM broadcasting,
and satellite radio broadcasting. The antenna apparatus 1 has
a streamlined shape with an ever thinner tip and sides curved
inward so that beauty and design of a vehicle are not damaged.
Then, the bottom of the antenna apparatus 1 has a shape fitting
to that of a mounting surface of the vehicle 2 and is mounted
on the vehicle 2 with watertightness.
Next, FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 show the configuration of the
on-vehicle antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the
configuration of the antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment
according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing
the configuration of the antenna apparatus 1 according to the
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present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal
configuration of the antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment
according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing
the internal configuration of the antenna apparatus 1 in the
first embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG.
6 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the antenna
apparatus 1 in the first embodiment by omitting an antenna case.
As shown in these figures, the antenna apparatus 1
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
includes an antenna case 10, an antenna base 20 housed in the
antenna case 10, an antenna substrate 30 mounted on the antenna
base 20, an amplifier substrate 34, and a flat antenna unit 35.
The length of the antenna case 10 in the longitudinal direction
is set to about 200 mm and the width thereof to about 75 mm.
The antenna case 10 is made of radio wave transmitting
synthetic resin and has a streamlined external shape with an
ever thinner tip and sides curved inward. The bottom of the
antenna case 10 has a shape fitting to that of the mounting surface
of the vehicle 2. Inside the antenna case 10, a space allowing
the antenna substrate 30 to be housed upright and a space to
house the amplifier substrate 34 almost in parallel with the
antenna base 20 are formed. The metallic antenna base 20 is
mounted on the bottom of the antenna case 10. Then, the antenna
substrate 30 is fastened upright to the antenna base 20 and also
the amplifier substrate 34 is fastened to the antenna base 20
so as to be positioned in front of the antenna substrate 30.
A notch 30a in a rectangular shape is formed in a central part
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at the lower edge of the antenna substrate 30 and the flat antenna
unit 35 is mounted on the antenna base 20 so as to be positioned
inside the notch 30a. By mounting the antenna base 20 on the
bottom of the antenna case 10, the antenna substrate 30, the
amplifier substrate 34, and the flat antenna unit 35 can be housed
in an internal space of the antenna case 10. The antenna
substrate 30 is suitably made higher with an upper edge of the
antenna substrate 30 fastened upright having a shape fitting
to that of the internal space of the antenna case 10.
A bolt part 21 for mounting the antenna apparatus 1 on
the vehicle 2 and a cable outlet 22 through which a cable for
leading a signal received from the antenna apparatus 1 into the
vehicle 2 is pulled out are formed by sticking out from the bottom
of the antenna base 20. In this case, holes into which the bolt
part 21 and the cable outlet 22 are inserted are formed on the
roof of the vehicle 2 and the antenna apparatus 1 is placed on
the roof in such a way that the bolt part 21 and the cable outlet
22 are inserted into these holes. Then, the antenna apparatus
1 can be fastened to the roof of the vehicle 2 by tightening
a nut to the bolt part 21 sticking out into the vehicle 2. At
this point, the cable pulled out of the cable outlet 22 acting
also as a positioning projection is introduced into the vehicle
2. A feeder cable to the amplifier substrate 34 housed in the
antenna case 10 is introduced into the antenna case 10 from inside
the vehicle 2 via the cable outlet 22.
The antenna base 20 consists of an elongated flat plate
in an approximately rectangular shape with a semicircular shape
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on one side and has a pair of substrate fixing parts 23 to upright
install and retain the antenna substrate 30 by sandwiching an
edge of the antenna substrate 30 formed on the front side.
Further, a pair of bosses 24 is formed sticking out to support
the amplifier substrate 34 by screwing the amplifier substrate
34. Moreover, five mounting holes 25 into which screws are
inserted for amounting the antenna base 20 on the antenna case
are formed on the periphery of the antenna base 20. Further,
the bolt part 21 screwed on the peripheral side and the cable
outlet 22 having a substantially rectangular sectional shape
are formed sticking out from the underside of the antenna base
20. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the antenna
substrate 30 is installed upright and fastened to the pair of
substrate fixing parts 23 and the amplifier substrate 34 is
fastened to the pair of bosses 24. Also, the flat antenna unit
35 is fastened by screwing or an adhesive to the front side of
the antenna base 20 inside the notch 30a of the antenna substrate
30 installed upright and fastened. Then, a cable connected to
output of the amplifier substrate 34 and that pulled out of the
flat antenna unit 35 are pulled out downward through the cable
outlet 22.
The antenna substrate 30 is a printed board such as a glass
epoxy substrate having good high frequency characteristics and
has patterns of an antenna device 31 constituting an antenna
capable of receiving AM broadcasting and FM broadcasting formed
in an upper part thereof. The height of the antenna substrate
30 from the antenna base 20 is set as H and the length thereof
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as L. The length of the antenna device 31 is set as L like the
antenna substrate 3 0 and the width (height) thereof as h. Further,
the interval between the lower edge of the antenna device 31
and the upper surface of the flat antenna unit 35 is set as D.
The size of the antenna device 31 is limited by restrictions
of the internal space of the antenna case 10 to the height H
of up to about 75 mm and the length L of up to about 90 mm. Here,
if the wavelength of the frequency 100 MHz in the FM wave band
is k, the dimension of about 75 mm corresponds to about 0.025k
and that of about 90 mm to about 0. 03k so that the antenna device
31 is an ultra-small antenna with respect to the wavelength k.
Incidentally, if the ultra-small antenna device 31 is
adopted, it becomes difficult to resonate the antenna device
31 in the FM wave band because the inductor component becomes
smaller. Thus, by inserting an antenna coil 32 of about 1 H
to 3 H to between a feeding point of the antenna device 31 and
input of an amplifier in the amplifier substrate 34 in series,
an antenna part consisting of the antenna device 31 and the antenna
coil 32 is made to be resonated near the FM wave band. The antenna
coil 32 is shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the antenna part
consisting of the antenna device 31 and the antenna coil 32 will
be able to operate excellently in the FM wave band. By using
the antenna device 31 resonating in the FM wave band as a voltage
receiving device in the AM wave band, the AM wave band is made
receivable. In addition, the antenna device 31 is a surface
antenna device of the length L and the width h and thus, a conductor
loss thereof is small so that degradation in electric
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characteristics due to the conductor loss can be prevented.
The amplifier provided on the amplifier substrate 34
amplifies and outputs an FM broadcasting signal and an AM
broadcasting signal received by the antenna device 31.
In the antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment of the
present invention, as described above, the flat antenna unit
35 to receive satellite radio broadcasting is installed
immediately below the antenna device 31 for receiving AM/FM.
The flat antenna unit 35 includes a patch element including a
perturbation element and capable of receiving circular
polarization. Generally, if two antennas are installed close
to each other, gain characteristics may deteriorate or
directional characteristics of radiation may be disturbed.
Thus, FIG. 7 to FIG. 11 show gain characteristics of the flat
antenna unit 35 when the elevation angle is set to 20 to 60 ,
which is specified as the satellite receiving elevation angle
range of a satellite digital radio, using the interval D between
the lower edge of the antenna device 31 and the upper surface
of the flat antenna unit 35 in the antenna apparatus 1 according
to the present invention as a parameter. The antenna device
31 in this case has the length L of about 60 mm and the width
h in the longitudinal direction of about 28 mm.
In FIG. 7, the frequency is set to 2338.75 MHz, which is
the center frequency of the satellite digitalradio broadcasting
(SDARS), and the elevation angle to 20 , gain characteristics
of the flat antenna unit 35 when the interval D changes from
33 mm to 7 mm are shown, and the horizontal axis is set as the
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interval D (mm) and the vertical axis as an average gain [dBic]
Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG. 7 shows that
the maximum gain of about 2. 0 [dBic] is obtained when the interval
D is 33 mm, the average gain attenuates with the decreasing
interval D up to 7 mm, and the gain attenuates to the minimum
gain of about 0 [dBic] when the interval D is 7 mm. Here, the
unit dBic represents an absolute gain over an isotropic antenna
(a virtual antenna that radiates power uniformly in all
directions) of circular polarization.
In FIG. 8, the frequency is set to 2338.75 MHz and the
elevation angle to 30 and gain characteristics of the flat
antenna unit 35 when the interval D changes from 33 mm to 7 mm
are shown. Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG. 8
shows that the maximum gain of about 1. 0[dBic] is obtained when
the interval D is 33 mm, the average gain gradually attenuates
with the decreasing interval D up to 7 mm, and the gain attenuates
to the minimum gain of about -5.5 [dBic] when the interval D
is 7 mm.
Further, in FIG. 9, the frequency is set to 2338.75 MHz
and the elevation angle to 40 and gain characteristics of the
flat antenna unit 35 when the interval D changes from 33 mm to
7 mm are shown. Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG.
9 shows that the maximum gain of about 1.8 [dBic] is obtained
when the interval D is 33 mm, the average gain gradually attenuates
with the decreasing interval D up to 7 mm, and the gain attenuates
to the minimum gain of about -4.0 [dBic] when the interval D
is 7 mm.
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Further, in FIG. 10, the frequency is set to 2338.75 MHz
and the elevation angle to 50 and gain characteristics of the
flat antenna unit 35 when the interval D changes from 33 mm to
7mm are shown. Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG.
shows that the maximum gain of about 2.0 [dBic] is obtained
when the interval D is 33 mm, the average gain gradually attenuates
with the decreasing interval D up to 7 mm, and the gain attenuates
to the minimum gain of about -7.9 [dBic] when the interval D
is 7 mm.
Further, in FIG. 11, the frequency is set to 2338.75 MHz
and the elevation angle to 60 and gain characteristics of the
flat antenna unit 35 when the interval D changes from 33 mm to
7 mm are shown. Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG.
11 shows that the maximum gain of about 2.1 [dBic] is obtained
when the interval D is 33 mm, the average gain gradually attenuates
with the decreasing interval D up to 7 mm, and the gain attenuates
to the minimum gain of about -4.5 [dBic] when the interval D
is 7 mm.
Reference to gain characteristics shown in FIG. 7 to FIG.
11 shows that better gain characteristics are exhibited with
the increasing interval D and if the interval D is set to 33
mm or more, good gain characteristics can be obtained in the
elevation angle range of 20 to 60 , which is specified as the
satellite receiving elevation angle range ofasatellite digital
radio. The width h of the antenna device 31 in this case is
set to about 28 mm. Moreover, the flat antenna unit 35 does
notaffectgain characteristics and directional characteristics
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of radiation of the antenna device 31 and the flat antenna unit
35 can be incorporated immediately below the antenna device 31
for integration by designing the interval D between the lower
edge of the antenna device 31 and the upper surface of the flat
antenna unit 35 at about 33 mm and the width h of the antenna
device 31 at about 28 mm.
Further, FIG. 12 shows directional characteristics of
radiation in a horizontal plane of the flat antenna unit 35.
The interval D is set to about 33 mm and the elevation angle
to 20 . Reference to directional characteristics of radiation
in FIG. 12 shows that almost non-directivity is obtained and
directional characteristics of radiation are not affected even
if the antenna device 31 is present immediately above the flat
antenna unit 35. That is, the height of the flat antenna unit
35 fastened onto the antenna base 20 becomes lower, which makes
the interval between the ground surface and the patch element
of the flat antenna unit 35 smaller, so that electric
characteristics, particularly directional characteristics of
radiation of the flat antenna unit35arenot affected. Moreover,
by incorporating theflat antenna unit 35 immediately below the
antenna device 31, an influence of directional characteristics
of radiation of the flat antenna unit 35 installed immediately
below the antenna device 31 is reduced to exhibit isotropic
radiation. Thus, even if the f lat antenna unit 35 is incorporated
immediately below the antenna device 31 in the antenna apparatus
1 including the antenna case 10 having a limited space,
non-directivity can be obtained without being affected by the
CA 02677876 2009-08-11
antenna device 31 by setting the interval D therebetween to about
33 mm.
Here, a design technique of the antenna apparatus 1 in
the first embodiment according to the present invention will
bedescribed. The flat antenna unit 35 is assumed to be an antenna
for receiving SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) with
the center frequency thereof of 2338.75 MHz. In this case, the
wavelength k of the center frequency of a satellite digital radio
is about 128 mm and design values in terms of the wavelength
k will be represented as follows:
(1) The interval D between the lower edge of the antenna
device 31 and the upper surface of the flat antenna unit 35 is
set to about 0.25k or more.
(2) The length L of the antenna device 31 is set to about
0.5k or less.
(3) The width h in the longitudinal direction of the antenna
device 31 is set to about 0.2k to 0.25k, or 0.2k or less.
(4) The antenna device 31 is made to have a width in the
longitudinal direction larger than a thickness thereof and makes
prints on the antenna substrate 30 or has a plate shape with
thickness of 1 to 2 mm.
By setting dimensions/spatial relationships of the
antenna device 31 as described above, a mutual influence between
the antenna device 31 and the flat antenna unit 35 is reduced
so that equivalent electric characteristics of each antenna when
each of the antenna device 31 and the flat antenna unit 35 is
present alone can be exhibited.
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Next, FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the antenna
apparatus 1 with the height H from the ground of the antenna
device 31 designed at about 60 mm (The height of the antenna
apparatus 1 will be about 65 mm) , FIG. 14 shows the configuration
of the antenna apparatus 1 with the height H from the ground
of the antenna device 31 designed at about 70 mm (The height
of the antenna apparatus 1 will be about 75 mm), and FIG. 15
shows average gains of the flat antenna unit 35 when the height
H of the antenna device 31 is set to about 60 mm and 70 mm and
the elevation angle is changed.
Reference to FIG. 15 shows that when the height H of the
antenna device 31 is set to about 60 mm, the average gain of
about 0.5 [dBic] is obtained if the elevation angle is 20 , the
average gain attenuates to about -2.0 [dBic] if the elevation
angle is 30 , the average gain of about -0.2 [dBic] is obtained
if the elevation angle is 40 , the average gain of about -0.5
[dBic] is obtained if the elevation angle is 50 , and the average
gain of about 0.6 [dBic] is obtained if the elevation angle is
60 . When the height H of the antenna device 31 is set to about
70 mm, the average gain of about 2.0 [dBic] is obtained if the
elevation angle is 20 , the average gain attenuates, but the
average gain of about 1.0 [dBic] is obtained if the elevation
angle is 30 , the average gain of about 1.8 [dBic] is obtained
if the elevation angle is 40 , the average gain of about 2.0
[dBic] is obtained if the elevation angle is 50 , and the average
gain of about 2.1 [dBic] is obtained if the elevation angle is
60 .
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Thus, it is clear that there is a trend that the gain of
the flat antenna unit 35 improves with the increasing height
H of the antenna device 31.
Next, FIG. 16 shows frequency characteristics of a voltage
standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna device 31 depending
on "presence" and "absence" of the flat antenna unit 35 and FIG.
17 shows frequency characteristics of the average gain of the
antenna device 31 depending on "presence" and "absence" of the
flat antenna unit 35 when the height H from the ground of the
antenna device 31 is designed at about 60 mm (The height of the
antenna apparatus 1 will be about 65 mm) , as shown in FIG. 13,
and the height H from the ground of the antenna device 31 is
designed at about 70 mm (The height of the antenna apparatus
1 will be about 75 mm), as shown in FIG. 14.
The horizontal axis in FIG. 16 is set as the frequency
of the frequency range in the FM wave band and the vertical axis
as VSWR. Reference to FIG. 16 shows that while the resonance
point is invariant for both cases of "absence" and "presence"
of the flat antenna unit 35, degradation of about 1 to 2 of VSWR
is observed in the FM wave band when the flat antenna unit 35
is "present". This can be considered to result from an influence
of mutual interference of the flat antenna unit 35. Reference
to FIG. 17 shows that highly similar gain values are obtained
as the average gains in the FM wave band for both cases of "absence"
and "presence" of the flat antenna unit 35 so that an influence
of installation of the flat antenna unit 35 is hardly observed.
Reference to FIG. 18 shows that while the resonance point
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is invariant for both cases of "absence" and "presence" of the
flat antenna unit 35, the VSWR value in the FM wave band is more
improved when the flat antenna unit 35 is "present". Further,
reference to FIG. 19 shows that highly similar gain values are
obtained as the average gains in the FM wave band for both cases
of "absence" and "presence" of the flat antenna unit 35 so that
an influence of installation of the flat antenna unit 35 is hardly
observed. Further, frequency characteristics of VSWR shown in
FIG. 18 exhibit far better VSWR values than those of VSWR shown
in FIG. 16 in a wide frequency band and gain characteristics
shown in FIG. 19 achieve improvement of 2 to 3 dB gain from those
shown in FIG. 17 in a wide frequency band. Thus, electric
characteristics of the antenna apparatus 1 can significantly
be improved by setting the height H of the antenna device 31
to about 70 mm.
Next, the configuration of an on-vehicle antenna apparatus
3 in the second embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22. FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the internal
configuration of the antenna apparatus 3 in the second embodiment
according to the present invention, FIG. 21 is a side view showing
the internal configuration of the antenna apparatus 3 in the
second embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG.
22 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the
antenna apparatus 3 in the second embodiment by omitting the
antenna case.
As shown in these figures, the antenna apparatus 3 in the
second embodiment of the present invention includes, instead
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of the antenna substrate 30 in the antenna apparatus 1 in the
first embodiment, an antenna part 40. The antenna apparatus
3 in the second embodiment includes the antenna case 10, the
antenna base 20 housed in the antenna case 10, the antenna part
40 mounted on the antenna base 20, the amplifier substrate 34,
and the flat antenna unit 35. The length in the longitudinal
direction of the antenna case 10 is set to about 200 mm and the
width thereof to about 75 mm.
The antenna case 10 is made of radio wave transmitting
synthetic resin and has a streamlined external shape with an
ever thinner tip and sides curved inward. The bottom of the
antenna case 10 has a shape fitting to that of the mounting surface
of the vehicle 2. Inside the antenna case 10, a space allowing
the antenna substrate 30 to be housed upright and a space to
house the amplifier substrate 34 almost in parallel with the
antenna base 20 are formed. The metallic antenna base 20 is
mounted on the bottom of the antenna case 10. Then, the antenna
part 40 is fastened upright to the antenna base 20 and also the
amplifier substrate 34 is fastened to the antenna base 20 so
as to be positioned in front of the antenna part 40. A notch
42a in a rectangular shape is formed in a central part at the
lower edge of a plate-shaped insulating spacer 42 in the antenna
part 40 and the flat antenna unit 35 is mounted on the antenna
base 20 so as to be positioned inside the notch 42a. By mounting
the antenna base 20 on the bottom of the antenna case 10, the
antenna part 40, the amplifier substrate 34, and the flat antenna
unit 35 can be housed in the internal space of the antenna case
CA 02677876 2009-08-11
10.
The configuration of the antenna base 20 is the same as
that in the antenna apparatus 1 in the first embodiment and thus,
a description thereof is omitted. The antenna base 20 has the
pair of substrate fixing parts 23 to upright install and retain
the antenna part 40 by sandwiching a lower edge of the insulating
spacer 42 in the antenna part 40 formed on the front side thereof.
The antenna part 40 includes the insulating spacer 42 in
an almost rectangular plate shape and a conductive (for example,
made of metal) rod antenna device 41 fastened to the top end
of the insulating spacer 42 and having an elongated rhomboid
sectional shape. The insulating spacer 42 is made of an
insulating material with good high frequency characteristics
and has the notch 42a in a rectangular shape formed in the central
part at the lower edge. The antenna device 41 can receive AM
broadcasting and FM broadcasting and is constructed by forming
a conducting film on the whole surface of a conductor such as
a metal or an insulator whose width in the longitudinal direction
is made larger than the thickness thereof. The antenna device
41 is fastened to the top end of the insulating spacer 42 by
a lower part of the antenna device 41 being sandwiched by the
top end of the insulating spacer 42 so that a pair of mounting
screws 43 is tightened. Thus, by installing the antenna device
41 at a position as high as possible, like the first embodiment,
electric characteristics of the antenna apparatus 3 can be
improved. Incidentally, the sectional shape of the antenna
device 41 is not limited to a rhomboid shape and may be an
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elliptical shape or polygonal shape, or the antenna device 41
in a plate shape may be adopted. Further, it becomes difficult
to resonate the antenna device 41 in the FM wave band because
the antenna device 41 is also an ultra-small antenna and thus,
the inductor component becomes smaller. Therefore, by
inserting an antenna coil 32 of about 1 H to 3 H to between
a feeding point of the antenna device 41 and input of an amplifier
in the amplifier substrate 34 in series, an antenna part
consisting of the antenna device 41 and the antenna coil 32 is
made to be resonated near the FM wave band. The antenna coil
32 is shown in FIG. 22. Further, the amplifier provided on the
amplifier substrate 34 amplifies and outputs an FM broadcasting
signal and an AM broadcasting signal received by the antenna
device 41.
Also in the antenna apparatus 3 in the second embodiment
of the present invention, as described above, the flat antenna
unit 35 for receiving satellite radio broadcasting is installed
immediately below the antenna device 41 for receiving AM/FM.
The flat antenna unit 35 includes a patch element including a
perturbation element and capable of receiving circular
polarization. Moreover, in the antenna apparatus 3 in the second
embodiment of the present invention, if the wavelength of the
center frequency of a satellite digital radio in which the flat
antenna unit 35 operates is a,, the interval D between the lower
edge of the antenna device 41 and the upper surface of the flat
antenna unit 35 is set to about 0.25X or more. Further, the
length L of the antenna device 41 is set to about 0.5~, or less,
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and the width h in the longitudinal direction of the antenna
device 41 is set to about 0.2~, to 0.25a,, or about 0.2k or less.
Moreover, the antenna device 41 is made to have a width in the
longitudinal direction larger than a thickness thereof and has
a plate shape with thickness of 1 to 2 mm or a rod of about 1/60k
to 1/(one hundred + several tens)k.
By setting dimensions/spatial relationships of the
antenna device 41 as described above, a mutual influence between
the antenna device 41 and the flat antenna unit 35 is reduced
so that equivalent electric characteristics of each antenna when
each of the antenna device 41 and the flat antenna unit 35 is
present alone can be exhibited.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
An antenna apparatus according to the present invention
described above can receive FM broadcasting and AM broadcasting
excellently by an antenna device and receive satellite digital
radio broadcasting by a flat antenna unit by installing the
antenna device at a high position as far apart as possible from
the ground and installing the flat antenna unit immediately below
the antenna device. The satellite digital radio broadcasting
is not limited to SDARS and satellite radio broadcasting of
various frequency bands may be made receivable.
An antenna apparatus according to the present invention
is assumed to be mounted on the roof or trunk of a vehicle, but
the present invention is not limited to this and is applicable
to an antenna apparatus that receives at least the FM band.
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